Shahed-136 vs LUCAS
Shahed-136 and LUCAS are both relevant to discussions of low-cost one-way attack systems, but outward resemblance and similar design objectives do not establish identical components, guidance, production arrangements or operational capability.
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Specifications side by side
| Specification | Shahed 136 | LUCAS |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) | SpektreWorks |
| Country of origin | Iran | USA |
| Mission role | One-Way Attack / Loitering Munition / Strategic Infrastructure Strike | Low-Cost Long-Range Strike |
| Year introduced | 2021 | 2025 |
| Length | 3.5 m | Not publicly disclosed |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m | Not publicly disclosed |
| Height | 0.6 m | Not publicly disclosed |
| Maximum speed | 185 km/h | Not publicly disclosed |
| Published range | 2,500 km | Approximately 500 miles (reported FLM-136 family figure) |
| Endurance | 10+ hours | Not publicly disclosed |
| Service ceiling | 4,000 m | Not publicly disclosed |
| Payload | 40-50 kg warhead | Up to approximately 40 lb (reported FLM-136 family figure) |
| Weight | 200 kg | Not publicly disclosed |
| Armament | 40-50 kg HE warhead (integral); some variants carry thermobaric or shaped-charge warheads | Integrated one-way attack payload; exact warhead and guidance configuration Not publicly disclosed |
Figures below come from the linked DroneStrike profiles and retain their configuration qualifiers. Maximum speed, range, endurance and payload are separate published figures, not a single achievable mission configuration. Range is not necessarily combat radius or datalink reach. Missing information is not zero, and a larger figure does not establish combat effectiveness.
The comparison that matters
Distinguish design lineage claims from verified performance and procurement. An initial display, test or order does not prove mass production, and a claimed unit price may exclude launch equipment, support and mission integration. Compare documented configurations without inventing a cost-exchange ratio.
Understanding Shahed-136
Shahed-136 is a propeller-driven one-way attack aircraft. It delivers an expendable strike effect rather than returning from a sensor-and-weapons sortie like an armed reconnaissance UAV.
Separate reported range, actual demonstrated routes and warhead variants; common usage of loitering terminology does not prove every version has the same terminal seeker.
Understanding LUCAS
LUCAS is a low-cost one-way attack UAS reference. Its low-cost design objective and expendable mission should be distinguished from reusable armed reconnaissance and from claims about the specific aircraft it resembles.
Do not infer verified unit cost, production scale or operational equivalence from a display, resemblance or initial procurement announcement.
How to read the specification table
The table compares the named Shahed-136 and LUCAS catalog records, not an artificial combination of every advertised upgrade. Values are reproduced with their existing units and qualifications. Where figures describe different missions or payload types, treat them as context rather than calculating an unsupported performance advantage.
A published maximum is not necessarily achievable alongside every other maximum. Endurance may change with equipment, flight or sea conditions and transit requirements; a range figure may describe a different constraint from datalink reach. Unknown specifications remain unknown. For development programs and limited-disclosure systems, an intended capability must stay distinct from a completed trial or operational service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Shahed-136 and LUCAS?
Shahed-136 and LUCAS are both relevant to discussions of low-cost one-way attack systems, but outward resemblance and similar design objectives do not establish identical components, guidance, production arrangements or operational capability.
Can the headline specifications establish a winner?
No. The mission, actual configuration, supported force and quality of evidence determine what the figures mean. Maximum speed, endurance and payload alone do not establish combat effectiveness, survivability or equal intelligence collection.
Where can I verify the versions and figures used here?
Follow the Shahed-136 and LUCAS profile links for full descriptions, timelines and any listed source references. This guide preserves the catalog's uncertainty labels rather than presenting unpublished or weakly sourced figures as independently verified facts.
Sources and further reading
- Shahed-136: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
- LUCAS: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
Specifications are drawn from the linked catalog profiles. Source dates and aircraft configurations may differ; see the individual profiles for their timelines and qualifications.